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Archaeological & Inadvertent Discovery Information

 

 

Treatment of Native American Human Remains Discovered Inadvertently or Through Criminal Investigations on Private and Public, State-Owned Lands in Oregon

Native American burial sites are not simply artifacts of the tribe's cultural past, but are considered sacred and represent a continuing connection with their ancestors.  Native American ancestral remains, funerary objects, sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony associated with Oregon Tribes are protected under state law, including criminal penalties (ORS 97.740-.994 and 358.905-.961).  The laws recognize and codify the Tribes' rights in the decision-making process regarding ancestral remains and associated objects.  Therefore, both the discovered ancestral remains and their associated objects should be treated in a sensitive and respectful manner by all parties involved. 

Identification of Human Remains  

  1. Oregon laws (ORS 146.090 & .095) outline the types of deaths that require investigation and the accompanying responsibilities for that investigation.  The law enforcement official, district medical examiner, and the district attorney for the county where the death occurs are responsible for deaths requiring investigation.  Deaths that require investigation include those occurring under suspicious or unknown circumstances.
  • If human remains that are inadvertently discovered or discovered through criminal investigations are not clearly modern, then there is high probability that the remains are Native American and therefore ORS 97.745(4) applies, which requires immediate notification with State Police, State Historic Preservation Office, Commission on Indian Services, and all appropriate Native American Tribes.  To determine who the "appropriate Native American Tribe" is, the responsible parties should contact the Legislative Commission on Indian Services (LCIS).  To determine whether the human remains are Native American, the responsible parties should contact the appropriate Native American Tribes and the state physical anthropologist at the initial discovery.​ It should be noted that there may be more than one appropriate Native American Tribe to be contacted.
  • If the human remains are possibly Native American then the area should be secured from further disturbance.  The human remains and associated objects should not be disturbedmanipulated, or transported from the original location until a plan is developed in consultation with the above named parties.  These actions will help ensure compliance with Oregon state law that prohibits any person willfully removing human remains and/or objects of cultural significance from its original location (ORS 97.745).
  • All parties involved and the appropriate Native American Tribes shall implement a culturally sensitive plan for reburial.

Notification

State law [ORS 97.745 (4)] requires that any discovered human remains suspected to be Native American shall be reported to:

  • State Police
    • Lieutenant Craig Heuberger, Cell (503) 508-0779, Dispatch (503) 731-3030
  • State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)
    • Primary contact = John Pouley, State Archaeologist, office phone (503) 480-9164​​
  • Legislative Commission on Indian Services (LCIS)
    • Contact = Dr. Elissa Bullion, PhD, State Physical Anthropologist, cell phone (971) 707-1372, email Elissa.Bullion@oregonlegislature.gov​.  LCIS will provide the list of appropriate Native American Tribes
  • All appropriate Native American Tribes provided by LCIS
 
  
Contact Information
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BURNS PAIUTE TRIBE

​Diane Teeman
Culture and Heritage Director
100 Pasigo Street, Burns, OR 97720
C: 541-413-1190 / F: 541-573-1375
E: 
dlteeman.burns.paiute@gmail.com

 
CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF GRAND RONDE
​​​Briece Edwards 
Deputy Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Manager of Historic Preservation Office
9615 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, OR 97347
P: 503-879-2084
E: thpo@grandronde.org

 
CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF SILETZ INDIANS
​Robert Kentta
Cultural Resources Director
201 SE Swan Avenue Siletz, OR 97380
P: 541-444-8244 / F: 541-444-2307
E: rkentta@ctsi.nsn.us​
Peter Sv-gvs (Black Bear) Hatch
History & Archaeology Specialist
P: 541-444-8319
E: PeterH@ctsi.nsn.us
 
CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE COOS, LOWER UMPQUA AND SIUSLAW INDIANS
Courtney Krossman, THPO

1245 Fulton Avenue, Coos Bay, OR 97420
C: 541-297-5543 / P: 541-888-7513
F: 541-888-2853
E: THPO@ctclusi.org​​ 

Jesse Beers

P: 541-888-1319 / F: 541-888-0302
E: jbeers@ctclusi.org

 
CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION
Teara Farrow Ferman 
Cultural Resources Program Manager
Dept. of Natural Resources
46411 Timíne Way Pendleton, OR 97801
P: 541-276-3447 / F: 541-429-7203
E: tearafarrowferman@ctuir.org

Bambi Rodriguez
P & F:  541-429-7203
E:  bambirodriguez@ctuir.org

 
CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE WARM SPRINGS RESERVATION
THPO 
P: 541-553-2026
E: thpo@ctwsbnr.org 

Bobby Brunoe
THPO & NAGPRA Coordinator
E: robert.brunoe@ctwsbnr.org


 
COQUILLE INDIAN TRIBE
THPO​
​3050 Tremont Street North Bend, OR 97459
P: 541-756-0904 ext. 10216
F: 541-756-0847
E: THPO@coquilletribe.org​
Marsha Frost 
 
COW CREEK BAND OF UMPQUA TRIBE OF INDIANS
THPO
2371 Stephens Street, Suite 100 Roseburg, OR 97470
P: 541-677-5575 ext. 5577 / F: 541-677-5574
E: THPO@cowcreek-nsn.gov​​
 
KLAMATH TRIBES
Les Anderson 
Acting Director of Culture and Heritage
501 Chiloquin Blvd Chiloquin, OR 97624
P: 541-827-5220 ext. 158 / C: 541-591-8619
E: les.anderson@klamathtribes.com​